Apparatus for preventing pollution from offshore oil wells

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for catching oil from high pressure offshore oil wells so as to prevent pollution of the adjacent water. A substantially enclosed container is provided with an entrance throat area at one end of the container, and an exit at an opposite end thereof. The incoming oil from the oil wells is deflected rearwardly by a formed front wall means whereby the oil is deflected rearwardly of an upturned marginal edge of a bottom wall for the substantially enclosed container and is removed therefrom, preferably by gravity. The bottom wall ensures that no oil spills into and pollutes the adjacent water.

United States Patent Jones 51 May 23, 1972 APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING POLLUTION FROM OFFSHORE OIL WELLS lnventor: Eugene G. Jones, 2637 N. Johnson St.,

New Orleans, La. 70117 Filed: June 7, 1971 Appl. No.: 150,430

U.S. Cl. ..169/2 R Int. Cl r ..A62c 3/00 Field of Search ..169/2; 166/75, 315

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1903 Bell 169/2 R 3,554,290 1/1971 Verdin 169/2 R Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King Anomey--Low 8L Matthews [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for catching oil from high pressure offshore oil wells so as to prevent pollution of the adjacent water. A substantially enclosed container is provided with an entrance throat area at one end of the container, and an exit at an opposite end thereof. The incoming oil from the oil wells is deflected rearwardly by a formed front wall means whereby the oil is deflected rearwardly of an upturned marginal edge of a bottom wall for the substantially enclosed container and is removed therefrom, preferably by gravity. The bottom wall ensures that no oil spills into and pollutes the adjacent water.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEUMAY 23 1972 3,664, 12 9 sum 1 or 2 INVENTOR EUGENE G. JONES BY 407 0 Mad-L y ATTORNEYS PATENTEDHAY 23 I972 33, 664.429

SHEET 2 BF 2 A S INVENTOR EUGENE G. JONES ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING POLLUTION FROM OFFSHORE OIL WELLS This invention relates to an apparatus for catching oil from high pressure ofishore oil wells and, more particularly, to such an oil catcher which prevents pollution of the adjacent water.

In recent time, difficulty has been experienced with the containment of offshore oil wells when there has been a fire and an ensuing damage to the well head. One of the more effective methods of combating these oil well fires is to explode a charge of dynamite and when there is an insufficient amount of oxygen to support combustion and the flame goes out, to move right in with equipment to contain the gushing oil during the immediate period of time thereafter.

The apparatus of the present invention is intended to be used in such a manner whereby it becomes possible to catch all the oil being spewed out even from multi-well oil fields. In a preferred form of the invention, the oil is removed by a gravity outfeed whereby there is no obstruction to a free-flowing condition from the oil wells and no backup pressure.

A substantially closed container is employed which preferably is provided with a truncated entrance throat area through which oil from one or more offshore oil wells is admitted. This oil strikes a suitably positioned front wall means in the container and ricochets or is deflected rearwardly therefrom so that when it falls by gravity it has cleared an upturned marginal edge portion of a bottom for the container which occupies a major portion thereof. The upturned marginal edge portion of the bottom not only serves to define a portion of the entrance throat but also serves to prevent commingling of the deflected oil with incoming oil from the offshore oil wells. The presence of a bottom which occupies a major portion of the lower extremity of the oil catching apparatus ensures that none of the oil will return to pollute the adjacent water and in this respect constitutes a considerable improvement upon previously known devices.

The apparatus may also function to combat small fires existing at the oil well site. In this application, valve means preferably of a slide-type gate valve are used to shut ofi the gravity flow of oil to an outlet conduit and means are provided within the substantially enclosed container, though controlled externally, for admitting carbon dioxide or water to put out the fire. As soon as the fire is extinguished, the slide-type gate valve is opened from outside the apparatus so that the oil may once again be delivered to the outlet pipe or conduit.

The inherent advantages and improvements of the present invention will become more readily apparent upon considering the following detailed description of the invention and by reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, schematic in nature, illustrating the general environment within which the oil catching apparatus of the present invention operates;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, drawn to an enlarged scale, of the oil catching apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view taken in vertical cross-section of the oil catching apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view taken partially in vertical cross-section along line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view as seen from line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated the general environment within which the oil catching apparatus, indicated generally at in FIG. 1, operates. The container 10 is preferably initially and temporarily positioned by means of a crane and boom support indicated generally at 12 in FIG. I. This apparatus is shown to deploy cable support means 14 and 16 attached to lifting brackets or eyelets 17 on the container 10 for the positioning of the container over one or more oil well pipes shown at 18. An oil well platform 20 is illustrated to be supporting the crane and boom supports 12 with the aid of float supports 22 and other support means, not shown. Brackets or pad eyes 19 on each side panel facilitate the attachment of the oil catcher or container 10 to the exi'sting oil rig whereby the crane and boom support 12 may be removed after initially positioning the container 10. The oil which is caught in container 10 in a manner described more fully hereinafter preferably passes therefrom through an outlet pipe or conduit 24 into suitable collector means such as an open loading barge 26 schematically .shown in FIG. I. Thereafter, the oil may be towed away to a refinery.

The oil catching apparatus itself is shown with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5. Thus there is illustrated a bottom wall 28 which occupies a major portion of the bottom of the container 10 and which is provided with an upturned marginal edge portion 30. The container 10 is provided with a multi-faceted front wall means 32 which, as best seen in FIG. 5, is composed of a plurality of panels and outwardly bowed for the purpose of strength. Instead of being multifaceted, it can be braced and welded on the outside of the front wall with angle irons, flat bars, and the like. Side walls 38 may also be ribbed or strengthened on the outside only with angle irons, flat bars, and the like and secured by welding. The entrance end of container 10 is provided with a truncated portion, indicated generally at 34, which provides a suitable vent for gas. The front wall means 32 and upturned marginal edge portion 30 of the bottom wall 28 provide an entrance throat 36 which provides a semi-venturi construction in cross section.

The container may be rectangular, hexagonal, diamondshaped as well as being triangularly shaped for purposes of the present invention. The multi-faceted front wall means 32 may also be formed from a single sheet of material. In the illustrated embodiment, side walls are provided at 38 and a rear wall at 40. The front wall means 32 preferably makes an angle of about 45 with respect to the bottom wall 28. A deflector shield 42 cooperates with the front wall means 32 in order to deflect oil which enters the throat 36 to be deflected rearwardly so that when it falls under the influence of gravity it will have passed the upturned marginal edge portion 30 of bottom wall 28 and thereby be prevented from polluting the adjacent water to the offshore oil well drilling site.

It is also possible to provide means for extinguishing small fires with the oil catching apparatus of the present invention. For this purpose, the rear wall 40 is provided with a formed and flanged portion 44 in order to help receive a slide-type gate valve 46. In order to actuate the slide-type gate valve 46 there is shown a handle 48. Alternatively, other actuating means such as an air cylinder attached externally to the slidetype gate valve may be employed whereby the gate valve 46 may be actuated not only exteriorly of the container 10 but also at a remote position with respect thereto.

FIG.3 illustrates specific fire-fighting equipment for use as a sprinkler system or fogging. An inlet pipe 50 located at any convenient location with respect to the exterior surface of container 10 leads .into a serpentine pipe line 52 provided with small holes or orifices 54 whereby carbon dioxide or water may be introduced into the interior of container 10 in order to extinguish small fires. The gate valve 46 is closed only during the time that a fire is being extinguished. Thereafter, the gate valve is opened to permit the continuous flowof oil from the oil well pipes 18 which enter through the entrance throat 36 to be ricocheted or deflected rearwardly by means of the front wall means 32 and deflector shield 42 rearwardly of the upturned lip or marginal edge portion 30 of bottom wall 28 in order to be received by gravity into the outlet pipe or conduit 24 for delivery to an open loading barge 26. It will be observed that the bottom of outlet pipe 24 is substantially in line with bottom wall 28 whereby the oil may be delivered by gravity flow.

The crane and boom support 12 are customarily available at offshore drilling sites and are used only for initial positioning of the oil catching apparatus. Thereafter, the apparatus may be mounted permanently in position with the aid of pad eyes 19. The size of the oil catching container 10 will vary with the size of the oil well itself. Since the pressures of the oil well are considerable, the more the container weighs the greater stability that will be obtained. A size of 38 ft. in length and 38 ft. in height would be considered to be a relatively large container 10. Its weight would be in the order of 4% tons. The outlet pipe 24 will customarily have a diameter of about 12 to 14 inches for an internal diameter.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, the oil catcher construction of the present invention is essentially of a giant funnel-shaped construction lying on its side employing a ricochet from adjacent its entrance throat and which, with the aid of a deflector shield, redirects the upward high pressure flow of oil into a rearward flow, i.e., downwardly through the funnel-shaped construction.

While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be recognized that the invention may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for catching oil from high pressure offshore oil wells so as to prevent pollution of the adjacent water, said apparatus comprising:

a. a substantially enclosed container having an entrance throat area through which oil from one or more offshore oil wells is admitted,

. said substantially enclosed container having at least one front wall means against which said oil from said oil wells is directed and deflected rearwardly thereof,

0. said substantially enclosed container having a bottom wall occupying a major portion of the bottom of said container and terminating in an upturned marginal edge portion,

1. said upturned marginal edge portion serving to define a portion of said entrance throat,

2. said upturned marginal edge portion also serving to prevent commingling of said deflected oil with incoming oil from said offshore oil wells,

d. said container having at least one rear wall disposed rearwardly with respect to said front wall means,

e. and conduit means adjacent said rear wall for receiving and conveying oil deflected from said front wall means.

2. An apparatus for catching oil from high pressure offshore oil wells as defined in claim 1 including valve means operable from a location externally of said substantially enclosed container for cutting off the flow of oil to said conduit means.

3. An apparatus for catching oil from high pressure offshore oil wells as defined in claim 1 including auxiliary deflector means attached to said front wall means for deflecting oil toward said bottom wall.

4 An apparatus for catching oil from high pressure offshore oil wells as defined in claim 1 wherein said front wall means is outwardly bowed.

5. An apparatus for catching oil from high pressure offshore oil wells as defined in claim 4 wherein said front wall means is multi-faceted.

6. An apparatus for catching oil from high pressure offshore oil wells as defined in claim 1 wherein said front wall means is disposed at an angle of substantially 45 with respect to said bottom wall.

7. An apparatus for catching oil from high pressure ofishore oil wells as defined in claim 2 including flame extinguishing means carried internally of said substantially enclosed container.

8. An apparatus for catching oil from high pressure offshore oil wells as defined in claim 1 wherein said front wall means terminates short of the plane of said bottom wall to form with said upturned marginal edge portion of said bottom wall a truncated entrance throat for said substantially enclosed container. 

1. An apparatus for catching oil from high pressure offshore oil wells so as to prevent pollution of the adjacent water, said apparatus comprising: a. a substantially enclosed container having an entrance throat area through which oil from one or more offshore oil wells is admitted, b. said substantially enclosed container having at least one front wall means against which said oil from said oil wells is directed and deflected rearwardly thereof, c. said substantially enclosed container having a bottom wall occupying a major portion of the bottom of said container and terminating in an upturned marginal edge portion,
 1. said upturned marginal edge portion serving to define a portion of said entrance throat,
 2. said upturned marginal edge portion also serving to prevent commingling of said deflected oil with incoming oil from said offshore oil wells, d. said container having at least one rear wall disposed rearwardly with respect to said front wall means, e. and conduit means adjacent said rear wall for receiving and conveying oil deflected from said front wall means.
 2. said upturned marginal edge portion also serving to prevent commingling of said deflected oil with incoming oil from said offshore oil wells, d. said container having at least one rear wall disposed rearwardly with respect to said front wall means, e. and conduit means adjacent said rear wall for receiving and conveying oil deflected from said front wall means.
 2. An apparatus for catching oil from high pressure offshore oil wells as defined in claim 1 including valve means operable from a location externally of said substantially enclosed container for cutting off the flow of oil to said conduit means.
 3. An apparatus for catching oil from high pressure offshore oil wells as defined in claim 1 including auxiliary deflector means attached to said front wall means for deflecting oil toward said bottom wall.
 4. An apparatus for catching oil from high pressure offshore oil wells as defined in claim 1 wherein said front wall means is outwardly bowed.
 5. An apparatus for catching oil from high pressure offshore oil wells as defined in claim 4 wherein said front wall means is multi-faceted.
 6. An apparatus for catching oil from high pressure offshore oil wells as defined in claim 1 wherein said front wall means is disposed at an angle of substantially 45* with respect to said bottom wall.
 7. An apparatus for catching oil from high pressure offshore oil wells as defined in claim 2 including flame extinguishing means carried internally of said substantially enclosed container.
 8. An apparatus for catching oil from high pressure offshore oil wells as defined in claim 1 wherein said front wall means terminates short of the plane of said bottom wall to form with said upturned marginal edge portion of said bottom wall a truncated entrance throat for said substantially enclosed container. 